FTR, about half of the punters in the league were drafted, including many of the best of them.

28 punters have been drafted since 2000 -- http://pfref.com/tiny/HkXQ8 -- that's about 2 per year. 16 of them were drafted in the 5th round or higher, 8 of those in the 3rd or 4th rounds.

The main problem with the pick is that Locke was no better than OK as a punter. You'd want to end up with a top level guy if you're investing a pick, especially on a team that has lots of other needs. Sam Martin, who the Lions took 10 picks later, has been a better choice so far.

Locke did seem to improve in the second half of the season, might be solid in the long run, but overall his rookie season was disappointing.

This whole discussion of Locke reminds me of the situation here in KC a few years ago with another "lock." In this case, Justin Medlock.

In '07, the Chiefs drafted Medlock in the 5th rd and promptly traded away Lawrence Tynes (who was thought to be too inconsistent). The only difference in that case is that Medlock didn't even make the Chiefs team at all. He was cut and has been bouncing between the NFL and CFL since...while Tynes has been a solid kicker, whose career ended only because he contracted MRSA last August.

In this case, IMO, the fact that he even is still the punter should earn at least a C. You also have to look at our enemies to the east...how did that 3rd rd pick of the Packers in 2004 drafting BJ Sander work out for them? He was gone 2 years later never to be heard from again._________________

I thought the Locke pick was alright. Nothing special, certainly, but if you look at the other picks made in that round, it's not like we left a lot on the table by picking Locke. Both options have their merits, either you take a 'long shot' at a player with more positional value (and thus upside), or you take a 'sure thing' at a position of lesser relevance.

That said, if given the option of picking a guaruanteed starting punter for 10 years with a 5th round pick, I'd take it in heartbeat. If Locke manages a long and solid tenure, the pick is justified (in my mind)._________________